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p - iiyijua. ,1111 ij. i. jjo-i I 15, MSIDI oThd Women's track wins Big Sky, See page 6 CQJ Volume 65 Issue 71 wsusignpost.com Wednesday, March 5, 2003 n r'Tv VVr '7y 3 j I. , M i.-,-.-i.',w:-.. ,,,- ,, ii it- , , , AtTS SPOOFS (SIrDGir Images concern Muslim community, administration By Jennifer Larson news editor The Signpost Weber State University had its first experience with public outrage related to an art piece. The student art was part of a digital media assignment. The students were to use the symbols traditionally designated for male and female found on a restroom door. The two symbols were to be the basis of an artistic depiction of women's role in society. This project was not new to students taking the course. Chris Compton, WSU visual art student who took the class last year, said the digital images were probably based more on the class requirements rather than a political statement. "I think that we need to not blow things I It I out of proportion," Compton said. The digital image is a depiction of a large man holding a leash attached to the neck of a woman about a third of his size, in his right hand and a bomb in his left hand. The woman is wearing a traditional Muslim headdress. The symbol of Allah is written across the man's chest. "By using the symbol of Allah, he generalized Muslims and their treatment of women," said Mark Biddle, WSU visual arts department chair. This resulted in an outcry of upset regarding this generalization. In response to the complaints of those offended by the generalization, which included many Muslim and international ' students, university administration talked to them and to the art department to discuss concerns. "This is an educational community and we, a) came together, and b) learned from each other," said Anand Dyal-Chand, WSU vice president of student affairs. "Which is what education institutions are about." Others such as Brian Davis, Muslim student organization director, said the art was "By using the symbol of Allah, he generalized Muslims and their treatment of women." - Mark Biddle WSU visual arts department chair religiously offensive and he was happy to see it taken down. "With the potential of war, it is a difficult time for students," Dyal-Chand said. "It is a difficult time for Islamic students. An Islamic student would not do this kind of art." The choice to take the art down or leave it up was given to the student by the art department. Not wanting to further offend anyone andcause more controversy, the student decided to take the artwork down. Community members and alumni also voiced complaints about the art in the editorial section of a variety of community newspapers. "You would not see this type of hatred displayed so blatantly if it were directed at any other religion, especially the LDS religion in Utah," wrote Laurel Al-Tigar, WSU student. Compton disagreed with Al-Tigar's statement. Some campus art on display in the past has offended him as a Mormon, Compton said. There have been pieces that made statements against the LDS perspective and culture which he did not appreciate. Art is a forum for opinions and making statements with visual imagery. "I think we need to have our right to make a statement because we are art students," he said. Regardless of whether the piece See Art page 3 1 .:m w t .' ij If; rJ i VV ' A Road to the crown Lew Turner (2) of Highland High School shoots over a Timpvievv High School player in the Dee Events Center Monday. THS beat HHS 61-45 in the second round of the Utah State 4A Boys Basketball Playoffs. Weber State University will be hosting the 4A and 5A state playoffs and championship games through this week. WSU basketball will resume with the men's Big Sky Tournament March 1 1-12. Student fees, testing hours top senate list By Jennifer Compton Lee asst. news editor The Signpost Student senate met Monday and discussed different ways to make life easier for students. Student access to how student fees are spent and consistent testing center hours were important topics. The Weber State University Student Association will be under the bell tower Friday to pass out a sheet of paper to students. The paper explains how much student fees are spent in departments such as athletics, performing arts and the counseling center just to name a few. WSUSA President Brody Barnes said he hopes students will give them some feedback. "We just want to update the students on what's going on, and get their input on it," Barnes said. The sheet will also be available in the student government office in the Shepherd Union Building, Room 250. Other topics of the meeting were the hours of the Natural Science testing center, which closes at 4:30 p.m. Jon Harris, BISHonors senator, has been working with the testing centers to keep consistant hours. Prasanna Reddy, assistant director of academic support services and programs and the testing center, spoke to the student senate. She said there is not a need for the Natural Science testing center to increase its hours to 9 p.m. to meet the same hours as the other buildings. Between the Social Science Building and the Student Service Center testing centers there is currently a seatina capacity of 1 4 3 TESTING t T nv; Students wait to check in for their tests at the Natural Sciences Testing Center (above). The center is under fire for its hours, which are inconsistent with other campus testing center hours. "A lot of times when you're a science major, you have labs until 5:30 at night. It is such a pain." - Rachel Korth science senator scats and the average use is between 50 and 60 students at a time, with the exception of midterms and finals. It would cost S1S5 per week to employ two students to woik the extra 26.5 hours needed to fill the time at the Natural 1 a-Tv.Htaiwi'.r.u . r i vu is -,v M.in P.u. 1 bli'UiHV.ui.TUtW,. V! IKlsfJIVLNOUT 'milNOM HOI' 8 01 UOSISG r Science testing center, Reddy said. It would he a waste of resources. "We would like to see if c could manage in some other way," Reddy said. "We really See Senate pai;e 3

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p - iiyijua. ,1111 ij. i. jjo-i I 15, MSIDI oThd Women's track wins Big Sky, See page 6 CQJ Volume 65 Issue 71 wsusignpost.com Wednesday, March 5, 2003 n r'Tv VVr '7y 3 j I. , M i.-,-.-i.',w:-.. ,,,- ,, ii it- , , , AtTS SPOOFS (SIrDGir Images concern Muslim community, administration By Jennifer Larson news editor The Signpost Weber State University had its first experience with public outrage related to an art piece. The student art was part of a digital media assignment. The students were to use the symbols traditionally designated for male and female found on a restroom door. The two symbols were to be the basis of an artistic depiction of women's role in society. This project was not new to students taking the course. Chris Compton, WSU visual art student who took the class last year, said the digital images were probably based more on the class requirements rather than a political statement. "I think that we need to not blow things I It I out of proportion," Compton said. The digital image is a depiction of a large man holding a leash attached to the neck of a woman about a third of his size, in his right hand and a bomb in his left hand. The woman is wearing a traditional Muslim headdress. The symbol of Allah is written across the man's chest. "By using the symbol of Allah, he generalized Muslims and their treatment of women," said Mark Biddle, WSU visual arts department chair. This resulted in an outcry of upset regarding this generalization. In response to the complaints of those offended by the generalization, which included many Muslim and international ' students, university administration talked to them and to the art department to discuss concerns. "This is an educational community and we, a) came together, and b) learned from each other," said Anand Dyal-Chand, WSU vice president of student affairs. "Which is what education institutions are about." Others such as Brian Davis, Muslim student organization director, said the art was "By using the symbol of Allah, he generalized Muslims and their treatment of women." - Mark Biddle WSU visual arts department chair religiously offensive and he was happy to see it taken down. "With the potential of war, it is a difficult time for students," Dyal-Chand said. "It is a difficult time for Islamic students. An Islamic student would not do this kind of art." The choice to take the art down or leave it up was given to the student by the art department. Not wanting to further offend anyone andcause more controversy, the student decided to take the artwork down. Community members and alumni also voiced complaints about the art in the editorial section of a variety of community newspapers. "You would not see this type of hatred displayed so blatantly if it were directed at any other religion, especially the LDS religion in Utah," wrote Laurel Al-Tigar, WSU student. Compton disagreed with Al-Tigar's statement. Some campus art on display in the past has offended him as a Mormon, Compton said. There have been pieces that made statements against the LDS perspective and culture which he did not appreciate. Art is a forum for opinions and making statements with visual imagery. "I think we need to have our right to make a statement because we are art students," he said. Regardless of whether the piece See Art page 3 1 .:m w t .' ij If; rJ i VV ' A Road to the crown Lew Turner (2) of Highland High School shoots over a Timpvievv High School player in the Dee Events Center Monday. THS beat HHS 61-45 in the second round of the Utah State 4A Boys Basketball Playoffs. Weber State University will be hosting the 4A and 5A state playoffs and championship games through this week. WSU basketball will resume with the men's Big Sky Tournament March 1 1-12. Student fees, testing hours top senate list By Jennifer Compton Lee asst. news editor The Signpost Student senate met Monday and discussed different ways to make life easier for students. Student access to how student fees are spent and consistent testing center hours were important topics. The Weber State University Student Association will be under the bell tower Friday to pass out a sheet of paper to students. The paper explains how much student fees are spent in departments such as athletics, performing arts and the counseling center just to name a few. WSUSA President Brody Barnes said he hopes students will give them some feedback. "We just want to update the students on what's going on, and get their input on it," Barnes said. The sheet will also be available in the student government office in the Shepherd Union Building, Room 250. Other topics of the meeting were the hours of the Natural Science testing center, which closes at 4:30 p.m. Jon Harris, BISHonors senator, has been working with the testing centers to keep consistant hours. Prasanna Reddy, assistant director of academic support services and programs and the testing center, spoke to the student senate. She said there is not a need for the Natural Science testing center to increase its hours to 9 p.m. to meet the same hours as the other buildings. Between the Social Science Building and the Student Service Center testing centers there is currently a seatina capacity of 1 4 3 TESTING t T nv; Students wait to check in for their tests at the Natural Sciences Testing Center (above). The center is under fire for its hours, which are inconsistent with other campus testing center hours. "A lot of times when you're a science major, you have labs until 5:30 at night. It is such a pain." - Rachel Korth science senator scats and the average use is between 50 and 60 students at a time, with the exception of midterms and finals. It would cost S1S5 per week to employ two students to woik the extra 26.5 hours needed to fill the time at the Natural 1 a-Tv.Htaiwi'.r.u . r i vu is -,v M.in P.u. 1 bli'UiHV.ui.TUtW,. V! IKlsfJIVLNOUT 'milNOM HOI' 8 01 UOSISG r Science testing center, Reddy said. It would he a waste of resources. "We would like to see if c could manage in some other way," Reddy said. "We really See Senate pai;e 3